The reviews for the redesigned Converse All Star are in — it's a 'game-changer'

The redesigned All Star comes with a stiff price hike
of up to $25, depending on the model.Converse/AP

When Converse revealed the redesign of its All Star II, some
were confused.

Why release a sneaker that
looks basically the same as the original All Star? And
based on that, why charge up to $25 more for it?

Well, the reviews are in, and the beauty of the
updated sneaker is much more than meets the eye.

GQ called it "a legitimate game-changer for fans of the
sneaker everywhere," praising how Converse preserved the
classic shoe's aesthetic.

The magazine also noted that it now "looks more fit for 2015,"
thanks to the color-matching metal eyelets and stitched-on
logo patch.

But the sneaker's biggest changes aren't as visible to the
naked eye. As Style.com's
Steff Yotka points out, "Aside from its silhouette, it’s
a completely different sneaker entirely."

The biggest difference Yotka found was that the previously thin
canvas has been replaced with Tencel canvas, which is
not only harder to rip, but also provides a stiff shape to
the "formerly flimsy" All Star.

However, the stiffer canvas has its downside. Yotka notes
that the redesigned high-top's unrelenting fabric was
none too kind to the backs of her ankles. Once
broken in, though, they "fit like a glove."

The other major change that distances the new model from its
20th century counterpart is its comfort-focused design. The
original All Star was widely considered as one of the most
uncomfortable shoes around. A Lunarlon foam liner
(technology borrowed from parent company Nike),
a foam-padded collar and tongue, and micro-suede lining are
among the shoe's improvements.

Ben
Barna of Nylon.com says this foam liner "makes all the
difference" and that the shoe "doesn’t feel like a
Chuck Taylor" — which, in this case, is a positive thing.

Overall, if the brand's goal was to preserve the original
silhouette while creating a slightly better looking, tougher,
more comfortable All Star, then the critics agree that
they've succeeded.